| Abbreviation | UNICEF USA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1947 |
| Type | Children's Charity |
| 13-1760110 | |
| Focus | children's rights, child survival and child development |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Michael J. Nyenhuis | |
| Website | www.UnicefUSA.org |
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF, doing business as UNICEF USA, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) in the United States that supports the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Founded in 1947 by Helenka Pantaleoni, it is the oldest of the 36 UNICEF National Committees that support UNICEF worldwide [1] through fundraising, advocacy and education. Since its inception, the U.S. Fund has provided UNICEF and various NGOs with $6.3 billion in cash and gifts-in-kind. [2]
UNICEF USA administers the long-running Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, which began as a local fundraising event in Pennsylvania in 1950 and has since raised more than US$170 million to support UNICEF's work. The U.S. Fund also sponsored the UNICEF Tap Project, which provided children around the world with access to safe, clean water. [3] [4] The Tap Project began in 2007 and ended in 2016. [5]
The President and CEO of UNICEF USA is Michael J. Nyenhuis. Current members of the National Board of Directors are Andrew D. Beer, Robert T. Brown, Daniel J. Brutto, Nelson Chai, Gary M. Cohen, Mary Callahan Erdoes, Pamela Fiori, Dolores Rice Gahan, Sarah Godlewski, Mindy Grossman, Hilary Gumbel, Vincent John Hemmer, John A. Herrmann Jr., Franklin Hobbs, Peter Lamm (Chair), Barrie Landry, Téa Leoni, Bob Manoukian, Dikembe Mutombo, Anthony Pantaleoni, Henry Schleiff, Caryl M. Stern, Bernard Taylor, and Sherrie Rollins Westin. [6]
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is headquartered in Manhattan in New York City [7] and maintains regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. [8] [9]
UNICEF USA carries Charity Navigator's 3-Star (Good) financial standards rating for charities. Out of every dollar spent, 89 cents goes toward helping children, 8 cents is spent on fundraising costs, and 3 cents on administration. [10]
The first UNICEF greeting card was created in 1949, the design featuring a "thank you picture" by a seven-year-old girl whose village in Czechoslovakia received emergency assistance from UNICEF. The card launched a worldwide fundraising activity that continues to provide a significant source of revenue to UNICEF. The U.S. Fund makes UNICEF greeting cards and gifts available in the United States through the UNICEF Market website. [11] [12]
The U.S. Fund also supports UNICEF with UNICEF Inspired Gifts. Through this program, individuals can purchase lifesaving supplies for children such as therapeutic milk or anti-malarial mosquito nets and have them shipped to one of the over 150 countries and territories in which UNICEF works. [13] [14]
UNICEF USA has a long history of support from its celebrity ambassadors and high-profile supporters who play a significant role in promoting UNICEF and advocating and fundraising on its behalf. Current UNICEF USA Ambassadors include Katy Perry, Laurence Fishburne, Selena Gomez, Dayle Haddon, Angie Harmon, Téa Leoni, Lucy Liu, Joel Madden, Alyssa Milano, Sarah Jessica Parker, Marcus Samuelsson, Tyson Chandler and Vern Yip. [15]
Téa Leoni is an American actress. In her early career, she starred in the television sitcoms Flying Blind (1992–93) and The Naked Truth (1995–1998). Her breakthrough role was in the 1995 action comedy film Bad Boys. In later years, Leoni had lead roles in films such as Deep Impact (1998), The Family Man (2000), Jurassic Park III (2001), Spanglish (2004), and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). From 2014 to 2019, she starred as Elizabeth McCord in the CBS political drama series Madam Secretary.
Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gather money for non-profit organizations, it is sometimes used to refer to the identification and solicitation of investors or other sources of capital for for-profit enterprises.
Children International is a global nonprofit humanitarian organization that helps children break the cycle of poverty. It addresses children’s critical needs through early intervention and regular interaction in community centers. The goal is to help children overcome the effects of poverty, support their education, and prepare youth to contribute to society.
Susan G. Komen is a breast cancer organization in the United States.
Feed the Children, established in 1979 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization focused on alleviating childhood hunger. Its mission is "providing hope and resources for those without life's essentials." The organization provides food, essentials, education supplies and disaster relief to those in need across the United States and in 8 countries around the world. Domestically, Feed the Children operates five distribution centers located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Food for the Hungry is a Christian international relief, development, and advocacy organization. Food for the Hungry was founded in 1971 by Larry Ward. Food for the Hungry's stated mission for long-term development is to graduate communities of extreme poverty within 10–15 years. The organization also works in disaster relief and humanitarian response, including working with the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
UNICEF, originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a fund-raising program for children sponsored by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Started on Halloween 1950 as a local event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the program historically involves the distribution of small orange boxes by schools to trick-or-treaters, in which they can solicit small change donations from the houses they visit. Millions of children in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, and Hong Kong participate in Halloween-related fund-raising events for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, and the program has raised over US$188 million worldwide.
UNICEF UK, also known as the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, is one of 36 UNICEF national committees based in industrialised countries. The national committees raise funds for the organisation's worldwide emergency and development work. In 2007, UNICEF UK raised £41.3 million for UNICEF's work with children worldwide. UNICEF UK also advocates for lasting change for children. For example, it works to change government policies and practices that are detrimental to children's rights in the UK and internationally. Jon Sparkes was appointed CEO in January 2022.
The UNICEF Tap Project was a nationwide campaign that provides children in impoverished nations with access to safe, clean water. The campaign culminated during World Water Week, celebrating the United Nations' World Water Day, March 22.
Afghanistan Relief Organization (ARO) is a humanitarian organization which provides direct aid and education to those in need in Afghanistan. It runs a large technology education centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and is also involved in the training of midwives.
Water For People was founded in 1991 by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) as a response to the increasing water scarcity in developing countries. It is a nonprofit international development organization that helps people in rural parts of developing countries achieve greater access to drinkable and potable water and sanitation facilities. It works to accomplish the United Nations' 6th Sustainable Development Goal: availability of clean water and sanitation and comprehensive monitoring of freshwater facilities for the progression of human health. They seek to address the issue of nonexistent and suboptimal water and sanitation facilities across less-developed countries. With developing locally sustainable drinking water resources and sanitation facilities, Water For People also works to bring health and hygiene education programs to local districts. The non-governmental organization also works to empower and involve local governments, corporations, schools, homes, and individuals in the construction, financing, and maintenance of the water infrastructure. Water For People has established a year-round presence in 30 districts of nine developing countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, India, Rwanda, Uganda and Malawi. In totality, Water For People reaches 4 million people.
Helen Tradusa "Helenka" Adamowska Pantaleoni was an American silent film actress and humanitarian. She was the founding director of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, a role that she held for 25 years. Her granddaughter is American actress Téa Leoni.
Mary Emma Allison was an American school librarian who co-created Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in 1950. Her three children were the initial participants in the fund raising effort, which by the time of her death had brought in $160 million to be used for the benefit of needy children around the world.
GlobalGiving is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States that provides a global crowdfunding platform for grassroots charitable projects. Since 2002, more than 1.6 million donors on GlobalGiving have donated more than $750 million to support more than 33,000 projects in 175 countries.
Save the Children Federation, Inc., more commonly known as Save the Children USA, is a non-profit organization in the United States. Its stated goal is to improve the lives of children in the U.S. and around the world. Its headquarters is in Fairfield, Connecticut.
UNICEF Canada, also known as the Canadian National Committee for UNICEF, is one of 36 UNICEF National Committees based in industrialized countries. UNICEF is a child-focused humanitarian organization, working in over 190 countries.
The Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) is an international, faith-based NGO, providing long-term, co-operative medical and development aid to communities affected by poverty and healthcare issues. It was established in 1912 and officially registered in 1928. CMMB is headquartered in New York City, USA, and currently has country offices in Haiti, Kenya, Peru, South Sudan, and Zambia.
Asha for Education ("Asha") is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in the United States. The word "Asha" means "hope" in Sanskrit.
A UNICEF club is a student-led grassroots club present at high school and college levels of education, formed for the purpose of promoting the values of the parent organization the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF. The stated goal of the club is to "to empower youth [...] with the resources and skills to be effective global citizens" and "to support the world's most vulnerable children" through advocacy, education, community building, and fundraising.
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